“I am very much in favour of Gorkhaland”, Dawa Narbula

One on One with Dawa Narbula, Member of Parliament, Darjeeling Constituency

A BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Interviewed by Barun Roy

Question: The Gorkha Janmukti Morch is demanding for an early tripartite meeting between the Central Government, West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, you had stated a few days earlier that after meeting Mrs Sonia Gandhi, she had assured you that a tripartite meeting will be held soon. What is the update on that and will you be calling upon her to discuss on the issue again?

Answer: I will be leaving for Darjeeling to access the situation. I will also be holding a meeting with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders and discuss on the Tripartite Meeting between the Central Government, West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. I have met the Honourable Chairman of the UPA, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and she has resolved to call the Tripartite Meeting as soon as possible.

Question: How soon will the meeting take place?

Answer:The date has not yet been fixed but it will be held soon. First we will have to take care of the situation back in Darjeeling Hills and wait for things to return back to normal as soon as possible.

Question: The Pradesh Congress Committee President Mr. Priyaranjan Das Munshi had almost a month ago declared of Congress Party’s negative stand on Gorkhaland. Does this also mean that the AICC hold the same view? Is Indian National Congress against Gorkhaland?

Dafur or Darjeeling!

Reminiscent of Dafur Darfur! Is Darjeeling turning into Dafur Darfur?

Photo by Barun Roy

Any takers! Hyundai Santro Skeleton

 

Skeleton of Deepak Gurung’s Hyundai Santro

Photo by Barun Roy

Pictures of Arson in Darjeeling!

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

A car burns and then explodes in Darjeeling

All Photos by Barun Roy

Arson in Kalimpong also!

C. K. Kumai’s house ransacked, motorbike set on fire and car damaged in Kalimpong by agitating mob. Photo by Ajay Agarwal

Darjeeling Hills slips into lawlessness as Administration and Police remain silent spectators

A BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE | ALL PHOTOS BY BARUN ROY

BY BARUN ROY

Too many questions remain unanswered and all attempts to seek answers remain thwarted from all sides. The series of incidents that rocked Darjeeling Hills may be the beginning of things to come and a parley into uncertainty and chaos. The questions to the following questions must be found or else!

 

1. As Pramila Sharma lay grievously wounded before the entrance to the Director General of Police Official Residence, why didn’t the police guards and officials stationed there not respond? Eyewitness reports suggest that – as a hail of bullets was fired from the window of GNLF Darjeeling Branch President’s house, the compound of the Director General of Police Official Residence was in direct purview of the fire. 

Director Inspector General of Police’s Official Residence overlooking Deepak Gurung’s House

According to eye witness report bullets were fired from this window of Deepak Gurung’s house

Wounded Pramila Sharma being taken to the hospital

A Mother and Son watches in Horror as Pramila Sharma is taken to the hospital after being shot. Pramila’s blood is seen splattered on the mother’s body

1. According to the statement made by Benoy Tamang, the Press and Publicity Secretary of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Deepak Gurung had been harbouring unsocial elements and storing weapons and ammunition. If this was so why hadn’t the law enforcement authorities not investigated into the matter?

A Police contingent strolls leisurely to quell chaos

A Fire Brigade Vehicle stopped at the road by the people

1.  Eyewitness reports suggest Deepak Gurung and other individuals, possible those who fired from the window of the house was ‘evacuated’ from the house and taken through the compound of the Director General of Police and whisked to unknown locations. If this is so, are Deepak Gurung and the other assailants under arrest? Why hasn’t the District Administration come forward with a statement to the press? 
2. How is it possible for Deepak Gurung and the assailants to escape while the house being virtually under seize by the people?
3. The District Administration nor the Police have so far not come out with any statement on the death of Pramila Sharma? Why is there such a delay in the same?
4. After the death of Pramila Sharma and the subsequent public outburst Deepak Gurung’s House was burnt, vehicles burnt at numerous places, lawlessness and chaos reigned over the streets of Darjeeling for more than 12 hours, why did the Police not react. No arrests were made. As mobs moved around setting fire to vehicles, ransacking houses why did the police not react?

Deepak Gurung’s house set on fire

Burnt Motorbike before Deepak Gurung’s House

People burning Deepak Gurung’s Kashmiri Carpets and Rugs

A car parked before the Youth Hostel burns violently. It turns out later that this car belonged to a GJM supporter.

More cars set on fire before Youth Hostel Darjeeling

Arson at Clubside, Darjeeling

GNLF office furniture burnt at Kurseong by GJM supporters

A Poster in Mirik warning the administration of social strife if Deepak Gurung, A. R. Dewan and Hem Gurung and others were not arrested for the Rockville Shot-out.

Law must prevail by allowing lawlessness to spread, go unchecked and ultimately put an end to it – the Government of West Bengal, District Administration and all parties concerned are guilty of thrusting Darjeeling Hills into the path of Political and social strife. Democracy as such may no longer prevail and for all instruments of Democracy may be not able to function. And as such Darjeeling Hills might fall into chaos. GJM must be careful, for this is what the Government of West Bengal might all the while want to happen in Darjeeling Hills. A few years under Para Military Administration with sweeping power to the District Administration might destroy everyone’s life and lead to indefinite postponement of Civil Rights.

Violence: Parties concerned

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 25: Several political parties expressed concern over today’s disturbances in Darjeeling town and asked for strict administrative measures to bring the situation under control. “This type of violent incidents particularly at this critical point would be harmful to the interest of the hills as well as of the state and must be put down by apt administrative measures,” the leaders of different constituents of the Left Front said today. 

However, the CPI-ML (Liberation) leader Mr Abhijit Majumder said that the state-sponsored sabotage might have instigated today’s violence in the hill town. One woman belonging to the Gorkha Jan Mukti Nari Morcha was shot dead allegedly by GNLF supporters. The house of GNLF leader Mr Subash Ghising was pelted with stones and that of another GNLF leader Mr Dipak Gurung’s was burnt by an irate mob.

Expressing serious concern over the incident Mr Jibesh Sarkar, the CPI-M state committee member said that the administration should put down such lawlessness with a heavy hand. “The situation is alarming and before it takes a turn for the worse strict measures should be taken by the administration. The CPI-M activists are also being subjected to terror tactics by the GJMM activists, yet the administration is not alive to the gravity of the problem,” the CPI-M leader said. 

Terming the incident as ‘unfortunate’ Mr Ujjwal Chowdhury, the CPI Darjeeling district secretary, said that the GJMM leadership seemed to be a frustrated lot. “The administration must be on its guard to keep the cadres of the frustrated outfit under check,” the CPI leader warned.

Gorkha Olympian Chandan Singh Rawat dies at 82

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE – BEACON ONLINE WILL CARRY AN EXCLUSIVE TRIBUTE TO THE GORKHA HERO TODAY! 

DARJEELING, July 25: Olympian and veteran football player Chandan Singh Rawat has died. Rawat who would turn 83 tomorrow was ailing from heart problems for the past one year and was bed ridden since February after he fell down and cracked his hipbone. He was admitted to a Siliguri nursing home on Thursday when his condition grew serious. The octagenerian sportsman born and brought up in Dehradun played in the Indian football team at the Helsinki Olympics in 1952. He settled down in Darjeeling in 1957. “It is a great loss for the nation. We are proud he was our father. Though he was invited to play for many foreign countries he just wanted to play for his own country,” his daughter Mrs Manju Rawat said.

GJMM supporter dies in ‘GNLF firing’

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, July 25: A Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) supporter ~ Pramila Sharma (38) ~ was shot dead allegedly by GNLF leader Mr Deepak Gurung when a mob stormed his house today. In the violence that followed, the crowd set fire to Mr Gurung’s house (photograph right) and three of his vehicles. The houses of GNLF president Mr Subash Ghisingh and some other GNLF leaders ~ Mr NB Khawas, Mr Tika Rai, Mr NK Kumai ~ as well as Glenary’s Restaurant, a Darjeeling landmark, were damaged by the violent mob. 

According to the GJMM, the women and youth wings of the party had gone to agitate near the Zakir Hussain Road residences of GNLF president Mr Subash Ghisingh and party leaders Mr Deepak Gurung and Mr NB Khawas. GJMM said its supporters had been baited by GNLF members while sloganeering near Mr Ghisingh’s residence and they had pelted stones at Mr Ghisingh’s residence. The GJMM activists simultaneously damaged Mr Khawas’ residence before proceeding to Mr Gurung’s residence. Two shots were allegedly fired from Mr Gurung’s home, injuring Pramila Sharma in her abdomen. She later died in Darjeeling District Hospital, Mrs Urmila Rumba, convenor of Gorkha Jana Mukti Nari Morcha (GJNM), said. Mr Gurung, who was confined to his house for almost two hours during the violence was escorted out by police. 

The GJMM has filed an FIR demanding the arrest of Mr Ahitaraj Dewan, Mr Tilak Dewan, Mr Hem Gurung, Mr NK Kumai, Mr Norsang Sherpa, Mr Amar Tamang and seven others who, it alleged, had been present along with Mr Gurung when the shots were fired. Shops put up shutters and Darjeeling grew tense after the violence. 

The situation was brought under control towards the evening. “Six vehicles and houses of GNLF leaders were damaged by the mob. According to reports, a woman was shot in the firing. We are investigating. Mr Deepak Gurung has been arrested and sent to an undisclosed location in view of the present situation. Other GNLF leaders have been detained. We appeal to the GJMM to maintain peace,” IG (special) Mr DT Lepcha said. “Additional forces are on their way,” he added.

Czech duo get bail with riders – - Prosecution told to file report on August 12

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Svacha (right) and Kucera enter the Darjeeling court on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang Darjeeling, July 25: Czech scientist Petr Svacha and his associate Emil Kuchera were today granted interim bail by the court of the chief judicial magistrate after they spent more than a month in Darjeeling Correctional Home on charges of illegally collecting beetles and other insects from Singalila National Park. “The duo are fine and were released from the correctional home around 4.30pm. They have been put up in a hotel in Darjeeling,” said Bdayn Gurung, a defence lawyer. Another defence lawyer, Seshmani Gurung, said: “Our clients have been granted interim bail on the condition that they will not travel out of the Darjeeling subdivision without the court’s permission and that they will report to the investigating officer twice a week. Their passport will be in the custody of forest officials until the prosecution report is filed.” The prosecution can take up to 60 days from the date of the arrest to file the report. However, in this case, the judge has directed that it should be filed on August 12. The Czechs were arrested from a lodge near Rimbick, about 80km from Darjeeling town, on June 22, with a large cache of beetles and insects. The hearing of their bail plea was postponed more than once because of a ceasework by hill lawyers and a strike by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in all government offices, including courts, across Darjeeling.

VC letter language under scanner

 

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The officers meet the VC (right). (Kundan Yolmo) Siliguri, July 25: An order withdrawing the non-statutory powers of the North Bengal University registrar, Dilip Kumar Sarkar, has created resentment among the officers of the institution. What has irked the officers is not the purpose of the order, issued by the vice-chancellor, Arunava Basumajumdar, on July 22, but the “language” he had used. All 35 members of the NBU Officers’ Association in a memorandum submitted to the VC today, urged him to rephrase the preamble of the order. “As the second important officer of the institution, the registrar should not be overburdened with so many responsibilities. We have no objection if some of the registrar’s powers are delegated to other officers so that he is relived of his workload,” said Mehbub Alam, the secretary of the association. “But one of our honourable members (registrar) felt hurt by the language of the order and he has articulated it to us. We have asked the VC to look into the matter as early as possible,” said the secretary. But none of the officers were ready to explain what particular usage had hurt Sarkar. In the memorandum, the association has said “…the preamble of the order (no-F.39/VC-08/252, dated July 22) has hurt the sentiment of one of our respectable members…”

Police grope for answers after bullet burst – Death sparks rampage

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

(From top) A car set on fire in front of Gurung’s house; a woman being led away from the spot of firing; Kumai’s bungalow that was ransacked; Morcha supporters attack a house owned by a GNLF leader in Kalimpong. Pictures by Suman Tamang and Chinlop Fudong Lepcha Darjeeling, July 25: Hours after a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporter was killed by bullets fired from a multi-storey owned by GNLF leader Deepak Gurung, no one knows for sure how many people were inside the building when the incident took place. All that is known is that after the Morcha supporters surrounded the house, a volley of shots in three bursts, possibly from an automatic weapon, rained on them and a woman lay sprawled on the road, bleeding profusely. The Morcha supporters appeared confused about the chain of events that was over in a matter of minutes. “We were calling for Gurung when a boy came outside and told us that the GNLF leader was not at home and had gone to Siliguri,” said a woman Morcha supporter who did not want to be named. “We were engaged in the conversation and I doubt if anyone was keeping a watch on the building as we were not expecting any firing to take place. But suddenly the bullets rang out.” Police, when they arrived at the spot, found Gurung crouching in a small room on the ground floor of the building, although he and his family live on the second and third floors. By then, the second floor was already up in flames. The GNLF leader has reportedly claimed that there was no one else at home at that time other than an old woman. She was brought out minutes before the house was stormed by the Morcha supporters and set on fire. Gurung’s family members — wife and two daughters — were not found in the house either. As a result, there is no answer as to who fired the bullets that claimed the life of Pramila Sharma. The police are tight-lipped and have whisked Gurung off to an undisclosed location after his arrest. What has emerged from his interrogation is yet to be revealed. The law enforcers claim they are as much in the dark as the public. “It is reported that there were some people in the house, but that is yet to be verified,” said IG, special, north Bengal, D. Lepcha. “If there were (some people), they must have fled. No firearms have been recovered either.” Police sources revealed that if there were indeed one or more persons in the building, they could have easily escaped from the back of the house in the ten minutes it took the Morcha supporters to storm the building after the firing. The house is on the slope of a hill. Anyone inside the building — and not necessarily in Gurung’s house on the second and third floors — could have got out of the back and escaped down the slope and disappeared in the lanes and bylanes below without being spotted or arousing suspicion. Neighbours have told the police that whenever the GNLF leader was in Darjeeling and at home, there would usually be around three-four party supporters with him.

GNLF LEADER’S BID TO FORM NEW PARTY LEADS TO PUBLIC CONFRONTATION AND DEATH – DARJEELING TURNED INTO A WAR ZONE, POLICE TURNS BLIND EYE

A BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

By Barun Roy

Darjeeling: A tip-off to a group of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Protestors that Deepak Gurung was organizing a meeting to form a new party led to the protestors to gather around the GNLF Darjeeling Branch President’s house. By 1:30 pm eyewitness accounts report that the protestors which comprised mostly of women started demanding that Deepak Gurung gave up his political career and retire. Suddenly a hail of bullet is fired upon the protestors through a window of the house of Deepak Gurung creating panic among the protestors. Pramila Sharma, age 36, an employee of the HDFC Bank while returning home after attending a religious ceremony with her friends is injured. Pramila Sharma is rushed to the hospital as she bled profusely. Within an hour, news of her being injured due to “firing by Deepak Gurung’s bodyguards” spreads across the town and people downs their shutters and marches towards the GNLF leaders’ houses. By 2:30, a group stones N. B. Khawas’ House below St. Paul’s School. The local residents of Youth Hostel, St. Paul’s Estate, Rockville lays seize over Subash Ghisingh’s house and breaks its window glasses. Additional police arrives at 4 o’ clock. Meanwhile, residents of Toong Soong and Rock Ville lay seize over Deepak Gurung’s house. At around 4:20 pm, Deepak Gurung and several individual’s are whisked through the compounds of Director General of Police and taken to undisclosed location. Within Minutes, news of Pramila’s death spreads over the town and reaches Rockville, Salt Hill, St. Paul’s Estate neighbourhoods, people once again stones houses of Subash Ghisingh situated above Salt Hill and near Youth Hostel and N. B. Khawas’s house below St. Paul’s Estate. Strong police contingent at Subash Ghisingh’s house is able to stop the people from entering the house while N. B. Khawas pleads his non-involvement with the other GNLF leaders and the people ultimately withdraw from his house. People however, ransacks Deepak Gurung’s house and sets it on fire. Two of his cars and a motorcycle are also set on fire. An agitated mob sets two more cars on fire parked before the Youth Hostel. The cars it is found later to actually belong to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters.

Chaos spreads across Darjeeling as sun sets and mobs roam around armed with Molotov Bombs and weapons. Police remain inactive. Cars are burnt at Clubside Motor Stand and further attacks on GNLF leaders and sympathisers’ houses are undertaken. By 6:30 – 7 pm, Aitraj Dewan’s house is ransacked, contractor Loke’s vehicles burnt. Glenarys’ former GNLF Youth Wing Convernor Ajoy Edward’s famed pub, bakery and restaurant partially damaged. By 8 pm as situation in Darjeeling submitted herself to an eerie disquiet, unconfirmed reports suggested the Police had arrested Deepak Gurung and the other unknown perpetrators. Their whereabouts however remain unknown. In the more than 12 hours of lawlessness not a single individual were arrested, neither section 144 was order. Reports of strife also came from Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. Darjeeling Hills it seems is slowly marching ahead into chaos.

GJM supporters block roads in Darjeeling

Photo by Barun Roy